spookypony
Well-Known Member
The Spooky Pony is to be out and about again this weekend, for his first two comps of the year! We're starting small: the livery yard fun show on Saturday, and an Endurance PL on Sunday. 
The Yard Show will be...*scary bass drum roll*...in the self-same field where I did my shoulder last summer. Preparation is involving lunging and gentle schooling in the area of the field fenced aside for the show ring: I'm sure the pony doesn't have a problem, but my head still does, and I'm hoping this will help! Goal for the show is: actually be in the ring, don't get p*****d off with, don't fall off and get hurt.
In other preparation, we've finally gotten to the point again in the school where taking a lesson on the Spooky Pony (as opposed to another horse) did not seem like a complete waste of time! I went to an instructor that has only seen me ride about once before, about a year ago, but with whom I've had a few chats about the pony. She's not quite as fierce as my regular instructor, which seems like a good thing for the particular problems I'm needing to address. It was really useful: she listened to my concerns, and helped me concentrate on the details of the exercise (and my ever-silly left hand), rather than worry about what might happen if I ask too much. The pony was soon relaxed and focused, and worked very well at everything he was asked. And I got a compliment on my position, which was nice too.
This afternoon, the day being sunny and warm, the pony got a pre-show bath. He didn't mind too much, except the sponge on top of his head...
...but I got a bit of unwelcome news: a fellow livery, who has been borrowing my dressage saddle, had noticed that there appears to be a pointy bit sticking out into the gullet! Without taking it apart, I think the tree is damaged; thus, bye-bye saddle!
It was an ancient synthetic saddle that came for free with the pony, so it's not exactly a huge loss, but I was planning to use it on the weekend...I'm not sure when the damage happened: I haven't used it in months, nor have I dropped it lately! Possibly just materials fatigue...?!
Tomorrow's task: figuring out a fancy-dress outfit...
The Yard Show will be...*scary bass drum roll*...in the self-same field where I did my shoulder last summer. Preparation is involving lunging and gentle schooling in the area of the field fenced aside for the show ring: I'm sure the pony doesn't have a problem, but my head still does, and I'm hoping this will help! Goal for the show is: actually be in the ring, don't get p*****d off with, don't fall off and get hurt.
In other preparation, we've finally gotten to the point again in the school where taking a lesson on the Spooky Pony (as opposed to another horse) did not seem like a complete waste of time! I went to an instructor that has only seen me ride about once before, about a year ago, but with whom I've had a few chats about the pony. She's not quite as fierce as my regular instructor, which seems like a good thing for the particular problems I'm needing to address. It was really useful: she listened to my concerns, and helped me concentrate on the details of the exercise (and my ever-silly left hand), rather than worry about what might happen if I ask too much. The pony was soon relaxed and focused, and worked very well at everything he was asked.
And I got a compliment on my position, which was nice too. This afternoon, the day being sunny and warm, the pony got a pre-show bath. He didn't mind too much, except the sponge on top of his head...
...but I got a bit of unwelcome news: a fellow livery, who has been borrowing my dressage saddle, had noticed that there appears to be a pointy bit sticking out into the gullet! Without taking it apart, I think the tree is damaged; thus, bye-bye saddle!
It was an ancient synthetic saddle that came for free with the pony, so it's not exactly a huge loss, but I was planning to use it on the weekend...I'm not sure when the damage happened: I haven't used it in months, nor have I dropped it lately! Possibly just materials fatigue...?!Tomorrow's task: figuring out a fancy-dress outfit...
